
The acoustic guitar is one of the most beloved instruments in the world. Eve Goldberg will guide you on your guitar playing journey.
Lesson 1
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the acoustic guitar. She talks about the parts of the guitar, the string names, and tuning.
Length: 27:16 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the first chord in this series, the A chord. She also shows how this chord can be used to play a simple song.
Length: 22:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 3
Eve Goldberg introduces the E chord. She explains how it is played and provides some exercises designed to improve your chord changing abilities.
Length: 21:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 4
Eve Goldberg returns to the song "Swing Low" and talks about playing it with two chords instead of one.
Length: 16:20 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Length: 15:56 Difficulty: 1.0 FREELesson 6
Eve Goldberg teaches how the boom-chuck strum can be applied to the song "Swing Low."
Length: 8:16 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
In this lesson, Eve introduces the D chord. You will also learn how to switch from the D chord to the A chord while applying the boom-chuck strum.
Length: 16:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 8
Eve teaches the song "Little Birdy," which is a great tune to practice changing from the D chord to the A chord with your boom-chuck strum.
Length: 23:54 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 9
You will learn the The Carter Family song "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" in this lesson.
Length: 32:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 10
Eve talks about 3 chord songs and demonstrates a few as an example. She also introduces the capo.
Length: 10:36 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 11
Eve continues her discussion on capos. She explains how to find a key by using a piano keyboard drawing.
Length: 12:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 12
Eve introduces the flatpick. She explains the proper way to hold it and strum.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 13
Eve shows you how to to compliment your boom-chuck strum by adding an A to D bass run.
Length: 14:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 14
In this lesson, Eve furthers your knowledge of bass runs by teaching the E to A bass run.
Length: 22:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 15
Eve continues her discussion of bass runs and also covers some great practicing techniques.
Length: 22:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 16
Eve introduces the G chord and practices changing to and from other chords you have learned. This is important for the next song you will learn.
Length: 14:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 17
Eve teaches the song "Gold Watch and Chain" using the G chord you learned in the last lesson.
Length: 19:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 18
Eve shows you how to add a little spice to your standard boom-chuck strum in this lesson.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
You've learned the Boom-Chuck strum. You've learned the Boom-Chucka strum. Now you will learn the Boom-a-Chucka strum. Have fun!
Length: 13:16 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
Eve shows how to incorporate the A to D bass run into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 18:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Get ready for a new run! Eve teaches the D to A bass run in this lesson.
Length: 30:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 22
Learn how to add even more flavor to "Gold Watch and Chain" by including a bass run from D to G.
Length: 20:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 23
Learn the G to D bass run and incorporate it into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 29:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
Eve encourages you to take all of the tools you've learned thus far and apply them to the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 16:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
Eve introduces a new song called "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 15:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
Eve introduces fingerpicking in this lesson by using the song "Hobo's Lullaby" as an example.
Length: 24:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 27
Eve adds a D to G bass run into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 28
Eve adds the bass run from A to D into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 16:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 29
Eve adds the bass run from G to A into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
Eve Goldberg finishes up her lessons on "Hobo's Lullaby" by adding one final technique: The D Doodad.
Length: 30:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
Eve Goldberg continues her beginner series with another amazing song called "Careless Love."
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 32
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion on "Careless Love" with a lesson about the pattern and chord changes of the song.
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 33
Eve Goldberg takes a look at the G chord fingerpicking pattern for the song "Careless Love."
Length: 14:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
Eve Goldberg continues "Careless Love" with a lesson about the fingerpicking pattern for the D chord.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 35
Eve teaches a Travis style picking pattern for the C chord. She also explains how to make the change from the C to the G pattern.
Length: 10:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
Eve wraps up "Careless Love" with a lesson about putting the whole song together.
Length: 16:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 37
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 11:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
Eve Goldberg reviews the chord structure for the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 13:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 39
Eve Goldberg returns to "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson all about the hammer-on.
Length: 9:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 40
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion of the hammer-on. She explains how a hammer-on can be used within a C major chord and the importance of timing.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 41
Eve adds the G chord hammer-on to the song "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 15:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 42
Eve gives a quick review of what you have learned so far in "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she dives into some bass runs that can be added to the chord progression.
Length: 13:54 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 43
Eve plays the G to C run in the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she breaks it down for practice.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 44
Eve taught the G to C bass run in the last lesson. In this lesson, she teaches you how to go from C back to G.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 45
Eve Goldberg covers a transitional chord between G and Em that functions like a bass run.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 46
Eve Goldberg wraps up "Goin' Down this Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson that combines all the techniques you have learned in the song.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 47
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Stewball" in this lesson. Get started with a little history and some basic concepts.
Length: 10:11 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 48
Eve Goldberg talks about the chord structure for the song "Stewball" in this lesson.
Length: 11:48 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 49
Eve Goldberg wraps up the song "Stewball" with some strum pattern variations.
Length: 15:08 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 50
Eve Goldberg returns to JamPlay with another exciting addition to her beginner series! Here you will take a look at "Drunken Sailor". Eve builds on this song in lessons to come.
Length: 16:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 51
Eve Goldberg returns to the song "Drunken Sailor" with some great tips on strumming patterns and more.
Length: 21:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 52
Eve Goldberg finishes up "Drunken Sailor" with some new strumming exercises.
Length: 13:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 53
Eve Goldberg dives into "Haul Away Joe," another fun sea shanty.
Length: 25:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 54
Eve Goldberg takes another look at "Haul Away Joe" with a brand new strumming pattern.
Length: 17:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 55
Eve Goldberg starts on a new folk song called "The John B. Sails". This particular song was later made famous by The Beach Boys under the title of "Sloop John B".
Length: 21:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 56
Eve Goldberg continues with "The John B. Sails". This time she introduces a brand new strumming pattern.
Length: 17:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 57
Eve Goldberg finishes up "The John B. Sails" lessons with a couple of brand new chords and a new strum.
Length: 24:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 58
Eve Goldberg dives into some basic, practical theory to expand your knowledge of the guitar. In this lesson, she talks about the I-IV-V progression and explains the circle of fifths.
Length: 13:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 59
Eve Goldberg continues her practical theory discussion, this time with an emphasis on minor chords and how they fit in.
Length: 13:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Eve Goldberg
View Full Biography
Imagine a kitchen party where Mother Maybelle Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Patsy Cline show up, and you begin to get a sense of what it feels like inside songwriter Eve Goldberg's head. Never one to restrict herself to one genre of music, Eve has performed her trademark mixture of folk, blues, country, bluegrass, old time, and jazz in venues ranging from small house concerts to the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington DC since 1990.
Eve was born in the Boston area but has called Toronto, Ontario home since 1981. As a child, she was dragged to folk concerts by the likes of The Weavers, Doc Watson, Arlo Guthrie, the Watersons, and countless others. Eventually it sank in, and as a teenager she began to devour all kinds of contemporary and traditional roots music. She began performing in 1990, and hasn't looked back since. Along the way she's earned the respect of legendary musicians like Peggy Seeger, Geoff Muldaur, and Penny Lang.
Her watercolour voice and solid guitar style has become a favourite at festivals, folk clubs, and concert series across Canada and the US. With an equal passion for traditional music, and for the art of songwriting and interpretation, Eve's performances are intimate and relaxed, moving effortlessly from folk classics to original gems, all wrapped up in her clear, pure voice and dynamic guitar playing. She has released two albums to widespread acclaim -- 1998's "Ever Brightening Day" released on her own Sweet Patootie Music label, and 2003's "Crossing the Water," released by The Borealis Recording Company. Her instrumental tune "Watermelon Sorbet" was used for years as the opening theme to the popular CBC national radio show "Richardson's Roundup."
Her latest album "A Kinder Season" was released in September 2007 on Borealis Records (US Release: Jan 9, 2007). Recorded in the months after her mother's death, the album is a remarkable personal testament to the joy and hope that lurks somewhere beyond the heartache, and the sweetness that can be found even in the bitterest seasons of life. Produced by Ken Whiteley, "A Kinder Season" features twelve new originals that firmly establish Eve as a compelling and thoughtful writer whose songs draw honey from the rock of human experience. As legendary blues musician Geoff Muldaur put it, "As far as I'm concerned, Eve Goldberg is on the verge of riches. Big name folks would want to get hold of this stuff."
In January 2008, Eve released "The Streets of Burma," a song inspired by the peaceful demonstrations of monks and nuns in Burma in September 2007. Since then, Amnesty International Canada has used the song as part of its campaign to free U Gambira, one of the monks arrested following his participation in the protests. Visitors to www.amnesty.ca/streetsofburma/ can listen to a preview of the song, find out more about the situation in Burma, sign an e-postcard to help free U Gambira, and if they want, download the song in exchange for a donation to Amnesty International Canada.
"A pure and pleasing voice and a performance style that know no bounds."
- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
"...one of the most promising young singers in the Canadian folk scene"
- Alistair Brown, Greenman Review
"Wow! Ever Brightening Day is one of the best albums I've heard this year!"
- Back Porch Music Distribution
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.I am learning the bass runs. I just figured out how the scales go on the guitar, it suddenly makes sense! A to B to C makes up the run and if I learn the notes, it falls into place. This lesson helped a lot...months ago it wouldn't have made sense but now...yes!! Did ja get that??? ha Thanks Eve.
Love the use of the piano keys - you have made this very easy to grasp and understand.
Hi,Eve, Good lesson.I understood, how I can find key on guitar with capo comparing it to piano keys.I watch this lesson several times, but miss the information you were demonstrating.Today, finally I'm able to grasp the concept.Thanks
Good lesson Eve. One of the main things I've been struggling with is singing while playing the guitar. These lesson make it pretty easy by the method you use of playing a little lower and very detailed on your instruction. I'm in a bluegrass club and most songs we play are 3 chords. I was trying to adapt my playing to the key they were using by playing the appropriate chords, which to some time to figure out and pencil the changes quickly on my manuscripts. This is so much esier to adapt using the capo. Your lessons are fantastic!
I'm sorry -- this flies in the face of everything I understand from my classical piano training. Just because you're moving a capo around doesn't mean you're changing keys... WHERE you play a particular song has no relation to the key it's in. The key signature and the physical notes played are what defines the key you're playing in. I may be artificially raising the pitch of the instrument, but I'm still playing the notes and chords as written. Can you explain this please? You're transposing on the fly, but you're not really changing the key signature, right? Thanks
Hi eunnyboy, I'm not 100% sure I understand your question, but when you put the capo on the guitar, you are raising the pitch of the guitar by a 1/2 step for each fret. If you put the capo on the 2nd fret, you are raising the key by two 1/2 steps or one whole step. So if you were playing a G chord, it will now sound like an A chord. You are not changing the shapes you play, but the pitch of the notes is changing, so the key is in fact changing. You can still use a chord chart in the original key, but the pitch of what you are playing is now not actually what you are looking at on the paper. Does that make sense?
Thank you Eve, you're ecellent!!! I'm a piano player and so this lesson is very helpful for me :-)
Eve, you are awesome! I knew there was a pattern to learning the notes on the guitar, but you are the first to show me how the notes relate to the piano. I get it now and I don't have to "memorize" all the notes. Also, thank you for teaching us how to use a capo. Especially with changing keys. You are a great teacher!
Whew good thing you told me about that capo...I was getting ready to use rubber bands and super glue...just kiddnnn...thanks Eve!!
Ha ha Barbarosa. I shouldn't laugh, I actually once had to do that when I arrived at a gig without my capo. Rubber bands and a pencil. It was brutal!
Excellent lesson. You make theory so easy.
Hey all, thanks for the great response to this lesson. I hope it proves useful in your guitar career! To answer snowdad, I've noticed recently a few times when I'm figuring out chords to a song for a student that the guitar is tuned down a half step. I'm assuming that's because it puts the song into a key that works for the vocalist, but there would be many other options for playing in whatever key it puts the song in. So, they must also like the way it sounds or the way it feels to play it that way.
Eve, that was right to the point, simple to understand, plus you explained the fret board at the same time of the capo.
Eve, that was a great explanation. I always wondered why you would use a capo. I also heard recently that bands will often tune down a half step to make the songs easier to sing along with. I guess it depends on the range of the vocalist. Is that right?
Why does no one else (or even books) ever explain these things so simply? Now I understand why people like to use capos. Thank you so much.